Electronic malas will track mantra recitations in a phone app, tallying “merit” that can be shared on social media.

An artist’s mockup of prayer beads in front of a computer screen. No image was provided by Acer.

The Taiwanese electronics corporation, Acer, has developed Buddhist prayer beads to help keep track of recited mantras.

While seemingly plain and nondescript, Acer’s “Leap Beads” are embedded with a smart chip that tracks the number of times a mantra is recited and displays the amount on the owner’s smartphone. The smartphone app turns repetitions into “merits” that the owner can send to loved ones through social media.

“Acer is continually talking to customers and looking for ways to use technology to simplify everyday life,” a representative said. “The intent is to help people concentrate on the mantra versus being distracted by counting the times the mantra is recited.”

For now, Leap Beads will only be sold to religious organizations in Taiwan. In a 2005 census, more than 8 million Taiwanese people identified as Buddhist—more than a third of the island’s population.

According to EJ Insight, a branch of the Hong Kong Economic Journal, the prayer beads have additional space for future features. For example, the beads could someday facilitate electronic payments or donations — or get the user discounts at shops and restaurants.

So far, Acer Taiwan hasn’t released an estimated cost for Leap Beads, but EJ Insight reports that more than 10,000 orders have already been placed.

This is one of several innovative technologies that have been developed to help improve Buddhist practice.

On a larger scale, a group of Buddhist programmers recently announced a plan for the world’s first cryptocurrency-based spiritual community, called “Lotos Network.” The creators designed the network to act as a “global monastery” with its own currency, “Karma Coin,” that members can earn by meditating and teaching and spend on courses and donations.

Is there a technology that is helping you reinvent your Buddhist practice? If so, let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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